AMES is located in Val da Maía, area of Santiago, in the southwest of A Coruña province. It borders the municipalities of Val do Dubra and A Baña in the north, Negreira and Brión in the west, Teo in the south and Santiago de Compostela in the east. Its 116 population centres, grouped together in 11 parishes, cover an area of 94 km2 with a population of 29,339 (2012 Census). Although O Milladoiro is the largest population centre, Bertamiráns is the municipal capital.

Bertamiráns is located 10 km to the west of Santiago, on its natural route to the coast (Noia), while O Milladoiro is only 3 km away from the centre of the capital. Thanks to being so near, it is included in the Santiago Metropolitan Transportnetwork; you can reach Santiago railway station in about 10-15 minutes and Lavacolla Airport in about 20-30 minutes. Its main road links are the AP-9 motorway, the AG-56 dual carriageway and the N-550 national road.

A third of Ames’ population works in the services sector. There is a lot of business activity, thanks mainly to the opening in 2002 of the Novo Milladoiro business park. The economic fabric is mainly made up of small businesses, mostly family ones centred on shops, cafeterias and restaurants. Even so, Ames still has part of its traditional economy based on stockbreeding and farming.

HIGHLIGHTS

Pazo da PeregrinaPazo da Peregrina probably originated as a tax collection centre and was built between the 17th and 18th centuries. The present-day complex, which is owned by the municipality, is set in a large green space. Apart from the main house, it features several auxiliary buildings and a chapel overlooking a circular patio dominated by a fountain. It is now used as a venue for holding exhibitions, concerts, civil weddings, etc. The gardens are admission free.

A Ponte MaceiraA Ponte Maceira is a charming hamlet set in natural surroundings of great beauty, dominated by the waters of the River Tambre. The ensemble is made up of several water mills, the chapel of San Brais (18th c.) and Pazo de Baladrón (1950s). The bridge, one of the most beautiful in Galicia, was erected in the 14th c., possibly making use of a previous Roman one. One of the water mills houses a cafeteria-restaurant with a magnificent terrace and panoramic view of the river. This is an obligatory resting place for pilgrims travelling along the Road to Fisterra-Muxía.

Road to Fisterra-MuxíaThis route runs through the municipal district of Ames from east to west. The hamlet of Augapesada features a singular medieval bridge. In Trasmonte there is an interesting example of a baroque church, from where we go down to A Ponte Maceira along a green corridor featuring large chestnut and oak trees.

Portuguese RoadThis route enters Santiago via O Milladoiro, where pilgrims see the city and its cathedral towers for the first time. The chapel of La Magdalena, in the centre of Milladoiro, appears attached to Santiago’s Old Hospital in a document from 1539, which seems to indicate that there used to be a hospital for pilgrims here.

Tapia Recreational and Swimming AreaLocated in a rural area beside the River Tambre, it covers an area of 15,000 m2 and features well-equipped installations. It has a car park, two barbecues, stone tables and benches, a water mill and a spacious green area with shade. During the summer there is also a swimming area in the river, a swimming pool for under-10s, toilets, first-aid posts and a snack bar.